Edmonds Bank HistPres designation staff report.pdf
City of Edmonds
Historic Preservation Commission
Designation Staff Report
May 14, 2009
Meeting Date:
Agenda Subject:Application for designation of the Edmonds Bank as eligible for inclusion
in the Edmonds Register of Historic Places
Staff Lead:Kernen Lien, Associate Planner
Property Information
Site Name/Location: Edmonds Bank
326 Main St
Edmonds, WA 98020
Tax Account #: 00434401600502
Township 27 Range 03 Section 23 ¼ Sec SE ¼-¼ Sec
Construction date: 1907
Owner/Applicant Information
Person(s) Nominating Site: Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission
Property Owner: Hirshberg J/Koehler L/Hirshberg W Trustee
Report Summary
Staff recommendation: Staff recommends that the Commission finds that the
nomination meets the criteria for potential designation in the
Edmonds Register of Historic Places. The exterior of the
structure contains the significant architectural features.
DesignationMeetsStaff
CriteriaCriteriaComments
1.Significantly associated with the The building is associated with the early
history, architecture, archaeology, commercial development of Edmonds and
engineering or cultural heritage of was originally constructed as the City’s
Edmonds… first bank.
City of Edmonds Historic Preservation Commission
DesignationMeetsStaff
CriteriaCriteriaComments
2.Has integrity… The building retains its original massing
and was renovated in 2004 to return the
building close to its original appearance
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of the early 20 century. Originally, the
Edmonds Bank featured prominent
column and a recessed entry which has
since been incorporated into the ground
floor providing additional floor space.
3.Age at least 50 years old, or has The structure is more than 100 years old.
exceptional importance if less than 50
years old…
4.Falls into at least one of the following
designation categories:
Designation Category
a.Associated with events that have The building is the site of the City of
made a significant contribution to the Edmonds first bank, the State Bank of
broad patterns of national, state or Edmonds.
local history.
b.Embodies the distinctive architectural Traditional turn of the century
characteristics of a type, period, style commercial architecture.
or method of design or construction,
or represents a significant and
distinguishable entity whose
components may lack individual
distinction.
c.Is an outstanding work of a designer,
builder or architect who has made a
substantial contribution to the art.
d.Exemplifies or reflects special Site of the City’s first bank.
elements of the City’s cultural, social,
economic, political, aesthetic,
engineering or architectural history.
e.Is associated with the lives of persons
significant in national, state or local
history.
f.Has yielded or may be likely to yield
important archaeological information
related to history or prehistory.
Edmonds Bank HistPres designation staff report.doc Page 2
DesignationMeetsStaff
CriteriaCriteriaComments
g.Is a building or structure removed
from its original location but which is
significant primarily for architectural
value, or which is the only surviving
structure significantly associated with
a historic person or event.
h.Is a birthplace or grave of a historical
figure of outstanding importance and
is the only surviving structure or site
associated with that person.
i.Is a cemetery which derives its
primary significance from age, from
distinctive design features, or from
association with historic events or
cultural patterns.
j.Is a reconstructed building that has
been executed in a historically
accurate manner on the original site.
k.Is a creative and unique example of
folk architecture and design created
by persons not formally trained in the
architectural or design professions,
and which does not fit into formal
architectural or historical, the
designation shall include description
of the boundaries of categories.
Significant Features
1. Shape: Rectangular, two-story commercial building.
2. Roof and Roof The building has a flat roof with a parapet wall.
Features:
Edmonds Bank HistPres designation staff report.doc Page 3
3. OpeningsThere are two doors in the primary entry ways on the north side of the
(entries, etc.): building off of Main Street. One door opens into the retail store (Edmonds
Interior) located on the first floor. The second door opens to a stair case that
leads up to the offices on the second floor. Two secondary entrances also
existing, one in the southwest corner opening to the west, and another on the
south side of the building opening south. Two large store front display
windows exist at street level on the east and west sides of the primary entry
way. On the second floor, six double hung windows were installed during
the 2004 renovation, five on the north side and one on the east side of the
façade. Four more double hung windows exist on the east side of the
building in their original location.Four first floor window openings have
been filled in with concrete blocks at some point in the buildings history.
4. Projections: A rod-suspended flat roof canopy extends approximately seven feet over the
sidewalk on the north end of the building.
5. Trim & secondary The 2004 renovation reinstalled the main cornice at its original location and
featuresis composed of dentil blocks and coped molding with an added egg and dart
molding common to the period. The parapet cornice molding was also
reinstalled.
6. Materials: The front façade of the building is clad in painted and notched shiplap, or
“Dutch lap” wood siding. The building is constructed of prefabricated
concrete blocks.
7. Setting: The building is located on a block with, and connected to, structures of a
similar age. The building directly to the west was the site of the Kingdon’s
General Store and was constructed in 1910. Just west of Kingdon’s General
Store is the Schumacher Building (Chanterelle) which was constructed in
1900. William A. Schumacher constructed the building and was the
th
treasurer who founded the Bank of Edmonds. Across 4 Ave to the east is
the Beeson Building, which was constructed in 1909 and was also
nominated this year to be placed on the Edmonds Register of Historic
Places. All these buildings maintain much of their historic character and add
greatly to the ambiance of downtown Edmonds.
8. Materials at close The first floor of east façade shows the original prefabricated concrete block
rangeunits which mimics ashlar stonework, while the second floor and parapet
blocks are horizontally scored. Smooth concrete blocks were used to infill
the original grade level windows.
9. Craft details: N/A
10. Individual The first floor has an open floor plan used for retail. The second floor has
rooms/spaces:been divided up into separate office spaces.
11. Related spaces or N/A
sequences:
12. Interior features: N/A. Interior features are not considered for nomination
13. Surface finishes & N/A
materials:
14. Exposed structure: N/A
Edmonds Bank HistPres designation staff report.doc Page 4
Edmonds Bank HistPres designation staff report.doc Page 5
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View of North façade from 4 Ave N and Main St c. 1907 (Photo from Edmonds Historical Museum)
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Ave N and Main St c.1910 (Photo from Edmonds Historical Museum)
View of North façade from 4
Edmonds Bank HistPres designation staff report.doc Page 6
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View of North façade from 4 Ave N and Main St Prior to 2004 Renovation (Photo from Snohomish
County Website)
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View of North façade from 4 Ave N and Main St Post 2004 Renovation
Edmonds Bank HistPres designation staff report.doc Page 7
View of North façade from Main St Post 2004 Renovation
Notes on historic register nominations:
Chapter 20.45.020 ECDC* states that if the Commission finds that the nominated property is eligible
for the Edmonds Register of Historic Places, the Commission shall make recommendation to the City
Council that the property be listed in the register with owner’s consent.
According to Chapter 20.45.040 ECDC, listing on the Edmonds Register of Historic Places is an
honorary designation denoting significant association with the historic, archaeological, engineering or
cultural heritage of the community. Properties are listed individually or as contributing properties to a
historic district. No property may be listed without the owner’s permission.
Prior to the commencement of any work on a register property, excluding ordinary repair and
maintenance and emergency measures defined in Section 20.45.000(H), the owner must request and
receive a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Commission for the proposed work. Violation of this
rule shall be grounds for the Commission to review the property for removal from the register.
Prior to whole or partial demolition of a register property, the owner must request and receive a waiver
of a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Because Edmonds is a Certified Local Government (CLG), all properties listed on the Edmonds
Register of Historic Places may be eligible for a special tax valuation on their rehabilitation.
* Edmonds Community Development Code
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